The Secret of Sinbad’s Cave by Brydie Walker Bain

Even though this book is intended for a younger audience, it was a fantastic read.
The adventure takes place in New Zealand. A country that merely upon a mention will conjure up mental images of magical landscapes and with one of the most interesting cultures, naturally, this story was absolutely brilliant.

In summary, we follow 14 y/o Nat, her brother Jack and younger sister Kathleen who have gone to spend their school holidays at their father’s farm which is in financial trouble and faces the risk of being sold off. The girls’ horses among everything else. A little accident on the farm though reveals a hidden room with long hidden secrets and sets Nat, Jack,Kathleen and Lima brothers on an adventure of a lifetime where they witness things many won’t believe in, many never have believed in and where all their skills will be put to a test. No story is complete without a couple of villains and I also didn’t expect the major revelation at the end of the book. It really triggers the reader to pick up the next book in the series to see where Nat’s adventures take the group of friends.

The right amount of Maori words peppered into the mix, and true knowledge of caving, Brydie wrote a story that could keep anyone, young or old, fully gripped by the story. A treasure hunt with the right amount of mystery, history, secrets, hidden agendas and innocence.